Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/308

 296 THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. lady was a stranger to me ; but on being applied to, kindly had a list of questions witb reference to the Knox Portrait, which were drawn up by an artist friend, and sent to her, minutely answered ; and after- wards, with a courtesy and graceful kindness, ever since pleasant to think of, offered on her coming to London to bring the Picture itself hither. All which accordingly took effect ; and in sum, the Picture was entrusted altogether to the keeping of these enquirers, and stood for above three months patent to every kind of examination, — until it was, by direction of its lady owner, removed to the Loan Gallery of the South Kensington Museum, where it still hangs. And in effect it was inspected, in some cases with the greatest minuteness, by the most distinguished Artists and judges of art that could be found in London. On certain points they were all agreed ; as for instance, that it was a portrait in all probability like the man intended to be represented ; that it was a roughly executed work ; probably a copy ; certainly not of earlier, most likely of later date, than Godfrey Kneller's time ; that the head represented must have belonged to a person of distinguished talent, character